Current collecting apparatus



March 7, 1944.

G. A. MITCHELL CURRENT COLLECTING APPARATUS Filed July 16. 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Q a 21m in?" izuezzzor Georzge A.Mz'c/zell fiiozvzgsPatented Mar. 7, 1944 2,343,693 CURRENT COLLECTING APPARATUS George A.Mitchell,

Manning,

Maxwell & Moore,

Muskegon, Mich, assignor to Inc., Muskegon,

Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 16, 1942, Serial No.451,10!

6 Claims.

This invention relates to current collecting apparatus particularlysuitable for use with traveling cranes and similar bridge structureshaving a carriage or other traveling member which requires a supply ofelectricalcurrent for its operation.

Traveling cranes may be equipped with any one of a number of differenttypes of runway conductor systems depending upon the specificrequirements of each installation. Thus, in some instances it may bedesirable to arrange the conductors of the system in avertical plane,that is, with the conductors spaced apart vertically, while in othersystems the conductors may be arranged in a horizontal plane. Witheither conductor arrangement the system may be of the so-called loosewire type in which the conductors are supported only at their ends.Alternatively the conductors may be supported at one or moreintermediate points in which case the conductors are generally stretchedrelatively taut. The latter systems will be referred to hereinafter astight wire systems. Moreover, while the conductors of the runway systemalways extend generally parallel to the path of the traveling memberthey may be located'either above or below or at one side of the bridgestructure which carries the tracks for the traveling member.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved currentcollecting apparatus adapted for use with any of the runway conductorsystems mentioned above.

A more specific object is to provide a current collecting apparatus madeup of a relatively small number of standardized parts constructed andarranged for assembly in various relationships to adapt the apparatusfor use with any of the runway conductor systems commonly employed intraveling crane installations.

Another object is to provide a current collect ing apparatus utilizinginterchangeable parts which, by reason of their universal adaptabilityfor use with any of the commonly used runway conductor systems,materially reduce the number of different parts which must bemanufactured'and carried in stock and thereby make it practicable toproduce this type of equipment by mass production methods with aconsequent reduction in the cost thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view'oi current collecting apparatusembodying the features of the parts are assembled loose wire runwaycontraveling bridge shown in transthe invention wherein for use with avertical ductor system as installed in a crane, the crane bridge beingverse section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the current collecting apparatusshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket forming a part ofthe current collecting apparatus with the individual elements of thebracket shown in separated relation.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the contactor assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of the contactor assembly arranged for use with ahorizontal loose wire runway conductor system.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the current collecting apparatusassembled for use with a vertical tight wire" runway conductor system.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1-! of Fig.6 showing details of the contact roll supporting structure.

tor pole l0 adapted to support Fig. 8 is a top View of the currentcollecting apparatus with the parts assembled for use with a horizontaltight wire runway conductor system.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the apparatus, partly in section, taken alongthe line 9-9 of Fig. 8.-

While I have shown and will hereinafter describe a preferred form of theinvention and its application to a specific type of traveling crane, itwill be understood that the invention may be employed with other typesof cranes and similar structures and that various changes andmodifications may be made in the form, construction and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

In carrying out the invention I provide a related series of standardizedparts adapted to be assembled in'various relationships for use with thedifferent types of runway conductor systems hereinbeiore referred to.This series of parts, as herein shown, comprises an insulated collecaplurality of contactors H (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) or 12 (Figs. 6-9) and amounting bracket M by which the collector pole may be supported on acranestructure in any one of a plurality of positions.

The collector pole H] as herein shown comprises a metal'bar I5 (Fig. 3)of generally rectangular cross section encased in a sheath l6 ofsuitable insulating material. The sheath effectively insulates thecontactors from the pole and from each other and makes it unnecessarybeing shown in the exemplary apparatus. The

contactors for any given installation are all alike so a description ofone of each type will sufiice.

The contactor II for the loose wire system, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4and 5, comprises a rigid bracket 2| having a transversely disposed cap22 bolted or otherwise removably secured thereto. The bracket and capare formed with complementary triangular grooves 23 (Figs. 4 and 5)which cooperate to define a square aperture adapted to snugly receivethe insulated section of the collector pole NJ. The bracket may thus berigidly clamped to the pole in either of two selected positions.

As will be seen by reference to the drawings the bracket 2| is formedwith a socket adapted to receive a roller supporting stud 24 (Figs. 1and 4) or the shank 25' of a roller supporting member 25 (Fig. 5). Agrooved roller 26 journaled on the stud 24 is thus positioned forcontact with a conductor 21 disposed at one side of the pole l when thelatter is arranged in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 2. A guardpin 28 set in the bracket 2| and extending over the roller 26 but spacedtherefrom prevents accidental disengagement of the conductor from theroller. To adapt the contactor H for use with a horizontal runwayconductor system, the stud 24 is replaced by the supporting member 25(Fig. This member is bifurcated to provide spaced bearings for a shaft29 on which the contact roller is journaled for rotation about an axisparallel to the longitudinal axis of the collector pole l0.

With either of the two types of mountings above described the roller 26provides a rolling contact with one of the conductors of the runwayconductor system. The weight of the conductor insures adequate contactat all times. The current picked up by the roller is transmitted by thestud 24 or by the shaft 29 and member 25 to the bracket 2!. A conductor30 suitably anchored to the bracket carries the current to the motor orother electrical device on the traveling member with which the currentcollecting apparatus is associated.

In runway conductor systems of the type in which the conductors arerigidly supported, that is, the socalled tight wire systems, it isdesirable to provide means for holding the contact roller against theconductor with sufficient pressure to insure efiicien't current pick-upwhile permitting yielding movement of the roller to compensate forirregularities in the conductor. The contactor assembly l2 supplied foruse with this type system is accordingly provided with a grooved contactroller 3| (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) journaled on a shaft 32 supported in thebifurcated end of a lever 33. This lever is pivoted intermediate itsends between a pair of lugs 34 pro- .iects axially from one end of acylindrical stud 35. The other end of the lever 33 is preferablyinclined at an an le with respect to the roller supporting end and isbifurcated for the reception of an I-bolt 36 which is pivotally attachedthereto by a pin or other suitable means. The free end of the I-bolt 36projects substantially parallel to the stud and through an aperture inan arm 31 rigid with the stud 35 and extending radially therefromadjacent the base of the lugs 34. A coiled compression spring 33interposed between the underside of the arm 31 and a nut 39 threadedonto the end of the bolt tends to rock the roller supporting lever (in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6) and thus hold the roller infirm contact with the wire of the runway conductor system.

The contact roller assembly is mounted on the collector pole ID by meansof a bracket 4| having a cap member 42 bolted or otherwise removablysecured thereto as shown in Fig. 7. Adjacent surfaces of the bracket andcap member are grooved to define a square aperture for the reception ofthe collector pole. A wire 43 anchored to the cap member as by a setscrew 44 conducts current from the contactor assembly to the motor orother device with which the apparatus is associated.

The bracket 4! is adapted to hold the contactor assembly in either oftwo positions for cooperation alternatively with a vertical orhorizontal runway conductor system. To this end the bracket is providedwith one stud receiving socket 45 disposed substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the collector pole and a similar socket 46extending generally parallel to the pole. The axis of the latter socketis displaced laterally with respect to the collector pole aperture asshown in Figs. 6 and 7 to provide sufr ficient clearance for the rollersupporting lever When used with a vertical runway conductor system thecontactor supporting stud 35 is seated in the socket 46 with the rollercarrying lever 33 projecting along one side of the pole as shown in Fig.6. Alternatively for use with a horizontal runway system, the stud 35 isseated in the socket 45, thus positioning the roller car rying lever 33as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In either case, the contactor assembly isfree to swivel or pivot on an axis perpendicular to the wire with whichit cooperates. Moreover, the contact roller 3! is yieldably held againstthe wire 27' by the action of the spring 38 thus enabling the roller tomaintain contact with the wire regardless of any irregularities therein.

Having in mind the construction and mode of operation of the contactorsI I and i2 above described it will be appreciated that the collectorpole It] must be rigidly supported and accurately located with respectto the runway conductor system with which it is intended to operate.Novel supporting structure is provided for this purpose, the support inthis instance comprising the bracket I 4 which performs the function ofsupporting and positioning the collector pole and contactors carriedthereby. Due to the novel form of the bracket, the pole may be mountedin the proper position for use with any of the conventional runwayconductor systems hereinbefore mentioned.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings the bracket M in its preferredform comprises a generally rectangular base 5! formed on one side withspaced pads 52 and 53 adapted to bear against the flange of an I-beam orother structural element to which the bracket is to be attached. Thesepads likewise provide seats for flat, generally rectangular clampingmembers 54 and 55 which engage the flange of the beam to secure thebracket thereto. These clamping members may be recessed on theirundersides as at 56 to conform to the contour of the'fiange and theoppositeedge is suitably apertured for "the reception of bolts by whichthe members I are removably secured to the base Projecting from the sideof the b'aseppposite the pads 52 and 53, substantiallyperpendicular tothe plane of the base, is a rigid plate 51 formed with crossedtriangular grooves 58 and 59 in' its front face. A gusset plate 60(Figs. 2 and 8) extends between the rear face of the plate and theadjacent end of the base to strengthen the plate and to assist inholding it rigid. The grooves 58 and 59 are preferably disposed at rightangles to each other, one being perpendicular to the "plane of the baseand the other parallel to said plane.

Cooperating with the plate 5'! is a cap member 6t of substantially thesame external dimensions --as the'plate and adapted to be removablysecured thereto as by bolts 53 engaging in apertures adjacent eachbf thefour corners of the cap member and plate. The cap member is likewiseformed with crossed triangular grooves 64 and 55' adapted to registerrespectively with the grooves 53 and 59 to form square sockets forreceiving theunsheathed end of the collector pole. Thus by tighteningthe bolts 63, the pole may be securely clamped in place on the bracket.I

It will be apparent that the bracket may be clamped in variouspositionson a crane or other structure with which it is associated andthat when so clamped it is capable of holding the col- .lec'to'r pole ineither a horizontal or vertical position as desired. Thus, only onebracket is'required regardless of the type of 'runway: conductor systemwith which the current conducting apparatus is to be used.

By way of illustration,'the installation of the collecting apparatus ona bridge crane equipped .with a vertical loose wire runway conductorsystem is shown in Fig. l. The particuJa-r'crane illustrated comprises abridge formed by spaced, horizontally disposed I-beams ,H equipped withrails 12 forming a track for a traveling member or carriage 13. Theconductors 21 of the system are attached to uprights 14 supported atopposite ends of the bridge structure by means of brackets 15 bolted tothe inner face of one of the I-beams H.

The carriage 13, as herein shown, includes a rectangular frameconsisting of side beams 16 joined by cross beams 11. Conventionalflanged wheels l8 journaled on the side beams support the carriage onthe track rails 12. An electric motor M mounted on the carriage isarranged to drive the wheels through the medium of a chain 19 andassociated apparatus of well-known construction. The current collectorsystem serves to conduct current from the runway conductor system forthe operation of this motor. Accordingly, in order to position thecontactors H for cooperation with the conductors 21, the supportingbracket I4 is clamped to the lower flange of the-beam 15 forming a partof the frame of the carriage.

For use with a horizontal loose wire runway conductor system thesupporting bracket may be clamped either to the upper or lower flange ofthe beam 16 depending upon the location of the conductors either aboveor below the plane of the carriage. In this case the collector pole isinserted in the horizontal socket formed between grooves 58 and 64.

Figs. 6 and 9 illustrate a crane form of mounting structure of apparatusfor channel supports suitably attached to the bridge member as by anangle bracket 85.

A similar type system with the conductors arranged in a horizontalplaneis illustrated in Fig. 9. In this instance the intermediate supports 84are carried on a horizontal member 81 which may be mounted on the bridgestructure in any suitable manner. In the particular installation shownin Fig. 9 the conductors are positioned above the plane of the carriageand consequently the collector pole supporting bracket is convenientlyclamped to the upper flange of the beam 16 forming a part of thecarriage frame The collector pole, in this instance, is engaged in thehorizontal socket provided for its reception while the contactors l2 areassembled in the manner previously described for use with horizontalrunway conductor systems.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides acurrent collecting appara tus of novel and advantageous form. Theapparatus consists of a relatively small number of standardized partsconstructed and arranged for assembly in various relationships to adaptthe use with any of the conventional runway conductor systems employedin traveling crane installations. The parts making up the apparatus areinterchangeabl for the different types of installations and materiallyreduce the number of different types of parts that must be manufacturedand kept in stock. This permits the parts to be manufactured in quantitywith a in the manufacturing costs.

I claim as my invention:

1; A contact'or assembly for traveling cranes and the like having, incombination, an elongated collector pole, a series of contactorsadjustably mounted on said pole for cooperation with the individualwires of a runway conductor system, and a bracket operative to supportsaid pole on the crane structure for operation with either a horizontalor a vertical runway conductor system, said bracket comprising arectangular base, clamping members secured to one side of said base forremovably securing the bracket to the crane structure, a plat projectingoutwardly from the opposite side of said base, a cap member adapted tobe assembled with said plate in face-to-face relation, said member andsaid plate having registering grooves defining angularly disposedapertures for receiving the collector pole, and means removably securingsaid cap member to said plate to clamp the collector pole rigidly in aselected position.

2. A universal supporting structure for a. collector pole having aseries of contactors mounted thereon to cooperate with the wires of arunway conductor system, said supporting structure comprising, incombination, a rigid base, mean operative to clamp said base detachablyto the flange of a beam constituting a part of a crane or the like, amember rigid with said base projectgrooves in the abutting faces of saidmembers defining sockets adapted to receive and clamp the collector polein a selected position, the grooves of the respective pairs beingdisposed substantially at right angles to each other and positioned sothat the sockets are enabled to hold the pole either parallel orperpendicular to the beam to which said base is clamped.

3. A universal bracket for supporting a collector pole having aplurality of contactors mounted thereon to cooperate with the wires of arunway conductor system, said bracket comprising, in combination, arigid generally rectangular base, clamping members adapted to be securedto said base and having sections extending over the flange of the beamto rigidly clamp the bracket thereto, a member projecting substantiallat right angles from the base opposite the side engaging the beam, asecond member adapted to be removably secured to said first member inface-to-face relation, said members having two pairs of registeringgrooves in their abutting faces defining socket adapted to receive andclamp the collector pole, the respective pairs of grooves being disposedsubstantially at right angles to each other and in a position to adaptsaid sockets for holding the collector pole either parallel orperpendicular to the plane of the base, and a gusset plate extendingfrom the rear surface of said first member to the bas operative to holdthe members rigid.

4. Current collecting apparatus for traveling cranes comprising, incombination, a bracket adapted to be rigidly clamped to an elongatedcollector pole, a, unitary contactor assembly mounted on said bracket,said assembly including a cylindrical stud, a pair of spaced lugsprojecting axially at one end of said stud, an arm projecting radiallyfrom said stud adjacent said one end thereof, a lever pivotedintermediate its ends between said lugs, a contact roller journaled onone end of the lever, and means yieldably urging the other end of thelever toward said arm, said bracket having a pair of sockets adapted toreceive said stud for pivotally supporting the contactor assembly, oneof said sockets extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe collector pole and the other socket extending generallyperpendicular to the axis of the pole.

5. Current collecting apparatus for traveling cranes comprising, incombination, a bracket carried by an elongated collector pole, a unitarycOntactor assembly mountable in different positions on said bracket,said assembly including a. cylindrical stud, a rigid arm projectingradially from one end of the stud, a lever pivoted at an intermediatepoint at said one end of the stud and having one end projecting oversaid arm, a contact roller journaled on the other end of the lever, andsprin means connecting between said one end of the lever and said armeffective to yieldably hold the lever in predetermined relation to thearm, said bracket having a plurality of sockets adapted to receive saidstud for pivotally supporting the contactor assembly, at least one ofsaid sockets extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe collector pole and another of said sockets extending at an angle tosaid one socket.

6. Current collecting apparatus for traveling cranes comprising, incombination, an elongated supporting member adapted to be mounted on acrane structure in either a horizontal or a vertical position, a bracketcarried by said supporting member and having a pair of sockets disposedin perpendicular relation to each other, one of said sockets beingdisposed in a vertical position when the supporting member is horizontaland the other of said sockets being disposed in a vertical position whenthe supporting member is vertical, a unitary contactor assemblyincluding a stud adapted to be mounted in the vertically disposedsocket, a contact carrying lever mounted on said stud, and spring meansyieldably holding said lever in predetermined position with respect tothe stud.

GEORGE A. MITCHELL

